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Christmas tree lighted without hitch

ERIN, Tenn. About 100 people didn’t let a few missing sidewalks and temporary fencing deter them from kicking off the holiday season with the annual Christmas tree lighting on Erin’s Court Square.Mayor Paul Bailey led the countdown as Staff Sgt.

Rain caused more problems than sidewalk construction for Erin's holiday kick off

ERIN, Tenn. — About 100 people didn’t let a few missing sidewalks and temporary fencing deter them from kicking off the holiday season with the annual Christmas tree lighting on Erin’s Court Square.
Mayor Paul Bailey led the countdown as Staff Sgt. Richard Spears of the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 255th Engineer Company, flipped the switch to convert the 20-foot cedar tree into a community Christmas tree.
Calling it a Christmas miracle would be an overstatement, but city workers finished decorating the tree only about three hours before the Dec. 4 ceremony.
“They were working on it a good part of the day. It was about 2:30 when they finished,” said Bailey. “We planned to put it up on Monday (Nov. 30), but the rain held us up. They also had to work on some water (system) problems, which was a hold up, too.”
Nevertheless, the lights brightened the faces of children and adults who gathered around the Christmas tree.
Kids who did not visit with Santa Claus inside City Hall earlier, were not shy about sharing their wish list with St. Nick.
Meanwhile, some children helped draw names for the country ham giveaways. A total of 29 businesses and individuals donated 37 hams for the day-long celebration.

Arts & Crafts Show
Beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, the annual Christmas Arts & Crafts Show got the holiday season started inside Erin City Hall.
“It’s been a little slow, but I’ve done well and sold a couple things,” said local artist Janet Felts.
She and other vendors said the morning was busy but the crowd thinned after 11 a.m. but picked up a bit in the late afternoon.
“Everything went smoothly despite the construction,” said Mary Rickets, referring to the ongoing work on the city’s Downtown Improvement Project.
She also acknowledged the assistance of National Guardsmen who volunteered help the vendors move in and out, as well as helping customers get their purchases to their vehicles, since access to City Hall was limited.
“We were more than happy to help,” said Spears, who was among the total of seven Guard members who assisted.

Sidewalk wishes
Santa made his entrance around 3:30 and visited with some children and adults alike.
Bailey confessed to Santa that he’d been a bit naughty this year but he sat on his knee and asked for sidewalks.
“I’ll do the very best I can. Other people have asked for sidewalks on your behalf,” Santa said, adding that the state has caused delays in the project that is revamping sidewalks on Court Square and creating a new entrance to Betsy Ligon Park.
“I’m going down there and have a word with them,” Santa said. “I have some connections down there.”Mark Hicks can be reached at 931-212-7626 or on Twitter: @markhicksleaf.